If this is your first visit, be sure to
check out the FAQ by clicking the
link above. You may have to register
before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages,
select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Dilemma on which train option to choose

Hi,

We are a party of 5, 2 adults and 3 children and this is a very last minute booking. I am travelling to CDG airport on Sunday the 14th arriving at 09:30 and I shall be staying in the city centre for 2 nights, 3 days (from the 14th-16th). On the third day I will be travelling to Eurodisney. I am confused as to which is the cheapest option for us to travel when using the RER/metro as regards day tickets.

Seeing Sunday will be a full day as we arrive in the morning (09:30 am) I was thinking we might as well opt for a day ticket, which means we either have to buy full day zone 1-5 to get from the airport to the hotel and tour the city for the rest of the day or buy a 2 day zone 1-5 costing approx. 114.6 (2 adults, children * other child is a 2 yr old (38.2*2)+(19.1*2). This will however mean I will be buying a dearer ticket for zones which I will not make use of on my second day and I still need to buy a separate one way ticket to Eurodisney for the third day (16th) + other tickets to make the connection to RER A to Eurodisney.

In Summary I need the following:

On Sunday, transfer from CDG and tour the city centre (Day 1 - One time travel from Zone 5)
On Monday, tour the city centre (Day 2 - Zones 1-3)
On Tuesday I need to use the metro and RER A to Eurodisney. (Day 3 - Zones 1-5)

I'm sorry that I don't have time to do a full workup of all the options but here are a few points. There are two day passes - the Visite (where the 1-5 zone version IS valid for the airports) and the much cheaper Mobilis (where the 1-5 zone version is NOT valid for the airports.). The rule of thumb is that for an airport journey a single ride ticket plus inner zone (1-2) pass is usually cheaper than a 1-5 zone pass. The Visite pass is also not good value unless you plan to use the museum entry discounts that it offers - if you won't be taking advantage of these, buy the Mobilis day passes in the zones you need.

It is more complicated for the children as the Mobilis does not have a child version whereas the Visite does have, but please also note the following. If you are in Paris on either a Saturday or Sunday, anyone under the age of 26 can qualify for an unlimited travel pass called the Ticket Jeunes Weekend. Basically itīs the same as a Mobilis Pass but costs much less at only 3.55€ for each day of any Saturday, Sunday or holiday. This would suit your situation for Day 1 for the children. It says "unlimited" so I believe will include the airports.

Edit: It's 3 euros for Zones 1-2, about 8 euros for Zones 1-5. And, being a Mobilis, it might not include the airports, in which case you would need a single ride ticket. But the 3.55 euros for unlimted travel in Zones 1-2 is as cheap as you're going to get.